亡くなる

• Reading: なくなる
• Romaji: nakunaru
• Kanji breakdown: 亡 (bou/na) — deceased, gone, lost
• Pronunciation: /na.kɯ.na.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To pass away; to die. A respectful and gentle way to express someone's death.

A Group 1 (godan) verb. This is the polite/euphemistic way to say someone has died, equivalent to English 'pass away.' It is much more commonly used than 死ぬ in daily conversation, especially when speaking about someone else's family member or a respected person.

Examples

1. 祖父は去年の冬に亡くなりました。 My grandfather passed away last winter.
2. 有名な作家が九十歳で亡くなったそうです。 I heard that a famous author passed away at the age of ninety.
3. 亡くなった友人のことを時々思い出します。 I sometimes think about my friend who passed away.

Usage Guide

Context: condolences, news, family

Tone: solemn

Origin & History

Derived from 亡 (deceased, lost) combined with the verb なる (to become). Literally 'to become lost/gone,' a euphemistic expression for death.

Cultural Context

Era: Pre-modern

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal